Electric clip connector



United States Patent F 3,456,233 UNITARY SEPARABLE DOUBLE SOCKETASSEMBLY Roberto L. Bustamante, 4a Calle Poniente 40, Santa Ana, ElSalvador Filed June 2, 1967, Ser. No. 643,110 Int. Cl. H011- 13/50; F2117/00, 9/00 US. Cl. 339-454 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention relates to a unitary separable double socket assembly and morespecifically, to a double socket assembly, which is a modified form ofthe socket assembly disclosed in my Patent No. 3,226,538, issued Dec.28, 1965, for insertion into a housing similar to the housing disclosedin my Patent No. 3,114,509, issued Dec. 17, 1963.

The socket assembly of the present invention comprises first and secondsocket members provided with helical threads, bayonet slots or othersuitable means for retaining a light bulb. The sockets are connected inaxial alignment, with the rear portions of the sockets facing oneanother, by means of a pair of elongated conducting elements. Theelements are each provided with a set of centrally located prongs ontheir inner surfaces, which retain an insulated disk provided with aconducting strip on its upper and lower surfaces. The elements are alsoprovided with abutments on their outer surfaces which are axially spacedfrom the prongs. The abutments are adapted to be engaged by a springwhich forces the conducting strip of the disk into contact with a socketsuch as the socket disclosed in my Patent No. 3,114,509 issued Dec. 17,1963.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a socketassembly which will serve as a substitute for a double light bulbassembly as illustrated, or similar to that illustrated, in my PatentNo. 3,114,509, issued Dec. 17, 1963 and Patent No. 3,278,787, issuedOct. 11, 1966.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, practicaldouble bulb unit which utilizes ordinary light bulbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double socket assemblywhich still functions with only one bulb in the assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following disclosure when taken in combination withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the unitary separable double socketassembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the unitary separable double socketassembly taken along line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view partly in section showing the socket assembly of thepresent invention within a lamp assembly; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the socket assembly within the lamphousing taken along line 44 of FIG- URE 3.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the socket assembly generally indicated byreference character 30 has first and second socket members 31 and 32,respectively, which are adapted to receive standard light bulbs of anypreferred configuration. The sockets are made up of an electricallyconducting material such as copper and although, as shown, they areprovided with helical threads, the sockets may be provided with bayonetslots or other suitable means for retaining the bulbs.

Sockets 31 and 32 are connected by elongated conducting elements 33 and34, which are secured to the outer surfaces of the sockets in a mannerthat insures an electrical connection between the elements and thesockets. The elements serve to maintain the sockets 31 and 32 in axialalignment as well as in electrical contact with one another with therear portions of the sockets facing one another. Of course, while asshown in FIGURE 1, the elements are soldered to the outer surfaces ofthe side walls of sockets 31 and 32, it is contemplated that anysuitable means may be used to join the elements to the socket which willinsure electrical contact between the sockets and the elements and whichwill be of sufficient strength to maintain the socket in their fixedaxial relation.

The elongated conducting elements 33 and 34 are each provided with a setof resilient prongs 35, 35 and 36, 36', respectively, which arecentrally located on the inner surfaces of the elements 33 and 34intermediate the rear portions of sockets 31 and 32. Each resilientprong is soldered or otherwise suitably secured at one end to element 33or 34 and has an inturned portion 37 at the other end which cooperateswith an adjacent inturned portion on the other prong of the set to actas a retaining means for disk 38. While this is the preferred means forretaining disk 38, it is contemplated that disk 38 could be retainedbetween elements 33 and 34 by other means where desired or necessitated.

Disk 38 is made of rubber, plastic or some other suitable insulatingmaterial and has laterally projecting portions 39 and 39' which abutelements 33 and 34, respectively, to insure that the disk is properlypositioned in socket assembly 30. Disk 38 is provided with a centrallylocated slot 40 and a metal strip 41 which passes through and isretained by slot 40.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, strip 41 preferably extends at right anglesto a plane passing through elements 33 and 34 so that strip 41 does notcome in contact with elements 33 and 34. Metal strip 41 comprises amidportion 42, two intermediate portions 43, 43' and two terminalportions 44, 44'. The midportion 42 of metal strip 41 extends along theupper surface of disk 38 and is folded over at each end with the twointermediate portions 43, 43' extending inwardly at an angle from theends of the midportion 42 through slot 40. The two intermediate portionsare equal in length and meet at their inner ends adjacent the lowerportion of slot 40. The two terminal portions 44, 44 of strip 41 extendoutwardly from the lower end of slot 40 in the same direction asmidportion 42 but on the opposite side of disk 38, whereby theconducting strip 41 extends from slot 40 on both sides of the insulateddisk 38.

Although as shown, the terminal portions 44, 44 extend out farther thanthe midportion 42, the relative length of these members is not critical.However, terminal portions 44, 44' extend out farther than socket 32 andelements 33, 34 so that the terminal portions can make contact with acontact ring which has a greater diameter than socket 32 for reasons aswill be explained hereinafter.

The elements 33 and 34 are also provided with outwardly extendingabutments located on the outer surfaces ELECTRIC CLIP CONNECTOR July 15,1969 F. LYMAN, JR

Filed Dec. 16, 1966 INVENTOR.

